PSA authenticated or graded 10 of most-expensive items sold in 2017

Just 10 of the most-notable items in the sports world that were sold in 2017 totaled more than $6.7 million in sales, ranging from the $1.68 million Norman Rockwell piece you see here to high-grade copies of Mickey Mantle‘s iconic 1952 Topps card.

And they all had one thing in common — PSA or PSA/DNA authentication.

“We certified a myriad of incredible items last year, and the list is full of sports history from top to bottom,” said Professional Sports Authenticator VP Steve Sloan. “We’ll continue pushing ourselves toward another great year in 2018, and look forward to what’s in store.”

The Newport Beach, Calif.-based company recently took the time to examine the markets last year and touted its Top 10 for 2017. Keep reading to see everything on the list.

First Buzz: 2017 Historic Autographs Originals 1930s baseball cards

What: 2017 Historic Autographs Originals 1930s baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 29
Box basics: One encased autographed buyback card display per box (16 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: The final Historic Autographs release of the year takes us back to the 1930s with buyback cards and cut autographs paired together in a very limited product.

Keep reading for more information.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Flawless baseball cards

What: 2017 Panini Flawless baseball cards
Arrives: June 1
Box basics: Six autos, two memorabilia and two jewel cards per box (two boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: Flawless returns to the baseball diamond once again with elite names from the past and the biggest names of the present all in one place — “more All-Stars, legends and superstars than ever before,” according to the company.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2012 Panini Cooperstown Extra Innings baseball box (Hour 11)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 11.

The box: 2012 Panini Cooperstown Extra Innings baseball cards
The cost: $40 (packs here when available)

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 48
Base set completion: 
28 of 300 (9 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Albert Pujols, Rickey Henderson, Miguel Cabrera, Sandy Koufax, Honus Wagner, Carlos Correa, Carl Yastrzemski, Lou Gehrig, Willson Contreras

Rookie Cards (2) – Andrew Benintendi, Yoan Moncada

SCP Auctions readies for sale of ‘original Wagner’ later this month

Update (June 11): This card sold for $609,294 at auction.

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A low-grade Honus Wagner T206 baseball card with a lengthy lineage in the hobby is hitting the auction block as part of a meaty collection of vintage cardboard.

The J. Ross Greene Collection will be handled by SCP Auctions later this month and it includes “a lifetime accumulation of cards and memorabilia honoring diamond and gridiron greats from the turn of the century to the modern era” and “boasts more than 100,000 pre-war and post-war baseball and football cards” with many of them in runs of complete sets.

First Buzz: 2017 TRISTAR Odyssey Baseball autographs

What: 2017 TRISTAR Odyssey Baseball autographs
Arrives: April 12
Box basics: One autographed item per envelope (16 envelopes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: TRISTAR brings its autograph chase to baseball with a product limited to only 75 cases and the potential for some big names and some big items.

Keep reading for more information and a gallery of the possibilities here.

First Buzz: 2017 Historic Autographs Kings baseball cards

What: 2017 Historic Autographs Kings baseball cards
Arrives: Feb. 22
Box basics: Two autographs per box (four boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: The first Historic Autographs release of the year goes high-end with a release that will be limited to just 80 cases.

Keep reading for more information.

Christy Mathewson auto from 2016 Topps Transcendent Collection commands big cash — and it should

He’s one of the biggest names in the history of the game and he’s one not commonly found on cardboard when it comes to autographs.

But Christy Mathewson‘s ink has been found in a $25,000 box of 2016 Topps Transcendent Collection baseball cards and the Hall of Famer’s ink is definitely worthy of the record-setting pricey brand.

The asking price?

Holding Honus: Arizona D-backs’ MLB Play Ball charity auction includes an unusual bonus

A series of charity auctions during the MLB Winter Meetings will raise money for a New Jersey youth baseball field in memory of former New York Mets public relations executive Shannon Forde and one will give a card collector a big, memorable moment.

One of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ auctions among more than 80 active as part of the Play Ball initiative will give the winner a chance to meet someone legendary in the history of baseball cards.

First Buzz: 2016 Historic Autographs Friends-N-Foes Holiday Edition

What: 2016 Historic Autographs Friends-N-Foes Holiday Edition
Arrives: Dec. 20
Box basics: One dual-autograph cut booklet per box (13 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs’ second release with booklets is here pairing players with common ties or opposing ones. The Friends cards will include family members, teammates and memorable pairings, while rivalries will be found on the Foes cards.

See a gallery and more … below.

Honus Wagner & LeBron James set new records on auction block

There’s no formal record book, but Honus Wagner and LeBron James are helping write it.

A pair of sports cards set sales records Saturday night in a Goldin Auctions event — a PSA 5 (MC) copy of Wagner’s iconic T206 baseball card and a modern-day Upper Deck creation from King James’ rookie year also graded and slabbed by PSA.

“The demand for rare, high-grade vintage cards has exploded so we were confident that there would be some eye-popping results and new record prices established,” said Ken Goldin, the founder of Goldin Auctions. “Every time one of these rare collectibles is offered for auction, serious collectors realize that it may be the last time for a long time. The booming market for high-grade rare trading cards, coupled with the limited supply, created the perfect storm for these remarkable prices.”

Goldin Auctions to once again sell high-grade Honus Wagner card that previously went for $2.1 million

A big baseball card is heading to the auction block once again.

A PSA 5 (MC) copy of the 1909 T206 Honus Wagner — the most-valuable baseball card of all time — is headed back to the auction block this fall via Goldin Auctions. The Runnemede, N.J.-based company announced the news on Thursday, noting that it will be up for grabs in its “Great American Trading Card Auction” in September after it goes on display at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, N.J.

“Serious collectors understand that every time a card like this is offered for auction, it may be the last time for a long time,” said Ken Goldin, the founder of the auction house. “The excitement that the auction of a T206 Wagner generates, coupled with the current booming market for high-grade trading cards, creates the perfect storm for establishing a new standard for sports memorabilia.”

Robert Edward Auctions spring sale leads off with Honus Wagner T206

It’s a low-grade specimen of the most-iconic and expensive baseball card of all time and it’s leading off the action as lot No. 1 in the current Robert Edward Auctions sale.

With 10 days remaining in the company’s spring sale, theSGC 10 (Poor 1) Sweet Caporal T206 Honus Wagner already has attracted 29 bids after an opening bid of $50,000.

What’s it at now?

First Buzz: 2016 Panini Flawless baseball cards

What: 2016 Panini Flawless baseball cards
Arrives: June 1
Box basics:  Six autographs, two memorabilia cards and two jewel cards per box (two boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Flawless comes to baseball with the elite names from the past and the biggest names of the present to go with the elite high-end price tag.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

First Buzz: 2016 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards

What: 2016 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards
Arrives: March 30
Box basics: Two autographs or memorabilia cards per 12-pack box (24 boxes per case; 12 per inner case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Diamond Kings returns for another season with a heavy amount of inserts in every box and some of the biggest names in the past and present of the game.

Keep reading for more.